With the ongoing urge to buy contemporary, high-tech cars with cutting edge technological advancements and security systems, vehicle theft remains a concerning issue. No matter how top-notch your vehicle amenities are, you can never be 100% protected from potential car thieves. Don’t rely on your savvy, new, high-end security measures to watch over your car, and incorporate some additional things to make your car a difficult target. Nowadays, you can do numerous things to upscale the safety of your car, and here are the top tips to apply.

• Park wisely

If you have a private garage, rest assured that it’s the safest place to park the car, nevertheless, you can never be extra careful. Install CCTV surveillance around the garage for extra protection and add a few additional light fixtures around the backyard. If you park in the car park or in front of the building first try to park as close to the other car as possible. This will prevent potential thieves from easily maneuvering inside. Secondly, park under the streetlamp or near a highly lit area so that your vehicle would be under constant light. Direct light might repel thieves as they are more likely to be seen.

• Lock it up

Even if it is a visible sign that you have taken extra precautions, finding efficient steering wheel locks to install into your car is the best way to protect your vehicle. Not only do you deter criminals looking for an easy job, but it will truly make you sleep like a baby knowing your car is maximally protected. In all other cases, always double-check if you have locked your car. You might be in a rush or on the phone, and after you realize it – the car has gone. Keep the car locked even while driving, and never leave windows down when you park it or the car unattended and in motion when you stop for a quick shop.

• Out of sight, out of mind

Hide your valuables whenever you are not in the car. Once you leave some of your belongings unattended, you end up becoming a juicy target for car theft. Simple things like satellite navigation, wallet, mobile phone, especially bags and cash should be placed far from sight. Don’t leave anything that may signal your financial situation like an ID or other paperwork as criminals may use that for identity theft as well. Conceal your valuables or bring all the belongings with you and you can rest assured that you won’t be an easy target.

• Have the windows etched

As silly as it may sound, but getting your car windows etched is one of the best ways for the police to track your car. Plus, once you have the car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on each of the windows you make the job of reselling your car far more difficult as police will surely be able to find it. Criminals avoid checking and replacing all the car glass, so it is one of the safest ways to recover your car if it gets stolen.

• Be mindful of the car keys

Everybody has once in their lifetime misplaced their car keys or at least forgotten where they are. Always be aware of where you place them when you are out in town. Keep them by your side, preferably in the pocket or in a closed belt bag. At home, don’t leave them unattended near open doors or windows, but rather keep them safely tucked away in a drawer. Also, keep them out of reach of the letterbox, because a professional thief can easily fish them with an iron wire through it.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Implementing the above-mentioned tips will ensure your car is extra protected.